Roman construction techniques

During the Roman Empire, new construction techniques were invented resulting in faster and cheaper construction. The method of this technique is to combine concrete with brick or stones which can be identified in 3 types of construction techniques: opus incertum, opus reticaltum, and opus testaceum - chronological order

In opus incertum, regular and uncut stones were placed randomly in a core of concrete material, opus caementicium. Later, the surface was simply flatter because more regular shape stones were selected and less amount of concrete was used.

Temple of Jupiter in Terracina Anxur

Second technique is called opus reticulatum where rocks were cut in diamond shape and placed around the core of the concrete. The pattern of this technique is neater than the opus incertum where rocks line in a diagonal pattern, looking like a net, which rock shapes were placed roughly 45 degree flatting on the surface.

Insula of the Charioteers

Lastly, Opus testaceum, also known as opus latericium, was invented in the first century BCE where it used bricks as the main construction. Opus testaceum was widely used in many large structure and was used throughout the imperial period. Using this technique, the surface is flat by the use of square brick shapes on the exterior where bricks were cut in diamond shape at the back.

Appian Way

Some example of techniques influenced in modern society

- opus incertum inspired